Feeding mechanism for sewing-machines.



G. E. MOLYNEUX.

FEEDING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MAGHINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1910. 1 097 346 Patented May 19, 1914.

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GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, ASSTGNOB TO THE SINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COZREPQIR-ATION OF NEW JERSEY.

FEEDING MEGHANISM FOR SEVTING-MAGHINE$.

Patented May 19, 1914.

Original application filed October 9, 1909, Serial No. 521,801. Divided and this application filed November 23, 1910. Serial 110193.793.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. MoLYNEUx, a citizen. of the United States, residing at Bayonne, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism for Sewing-h lachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This application is a division of my pending application Serial No. 521,801, filed October 9, 1909.

The present invention relates more particularly to an improved feeding mechanism for that class of sewing machines comprising a cylinder-arm or work-support along which the work is fed longitudinally in the stitching operation; and it has for its object to provide a rigid construction of the supporting and actuating means for the feeddog and convenient means of adjustment of the length of feed and the height of the feed-dog above the throat-plate.

In its most approved form, the invention comprises a feed-bar carrying the feed-dog at its forward end and extending longitudinally of the cylinder-bed by which it is inclosed, and a feed-actuating eccentric fixed upon the longitudinally extending mainshaft arranged beneath the feed-bar and having its eccentric-rod connected by means of a bell-crank lever with the rearward end of the feed-bar for imparting endwise movements to the latter. The feed-bar is slidingly mounted intermediate its ends in a tilting bearing sleeve pivotally supported upon a post whose lower end is provided with a strap embracing a feed-lifting eccentric upon the main-shaft. The top of the feed-bar is provided at its forward end with a seat between which and the foot of the superposed feed-dog is interposed a longitudinally adjustable wedge whereby the height of the feeding surface relative to the feed-bar is made adjustable.

The feedractuating eccentric, which is sustained by the main-shaft, beyond the rearward end of the cylinder-bed, has a central elongated aperture and is provided with a flange fulcrumed at one side upon a collar fixed upon the shaft and having a screw-andslot connection therewith at the opposite side of the shaft to provide lateral adjustment for the eccentric.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of a cylinder-bed sewing machine embodying the present improvement, Fig. 2 a plan of the same, and Fig. 3 a transverse section through the cylinder-arm to show the feedlift mechanism. Figs. a, 5 and 6 are detail views representing the adjustably mounted feed-actuating eccentric.

The frame of the machine is shown formed with thehollow base 1 from which rises the standard 2 and to which is applied the laterally extending cylinder-bed or work-supporting horn 3. The base is provided at the rear end with a bearing boss 4 containing a bushing 5 in which is journaled the rearward end of the main-shaft 6 fitted within a bearing member 7 formed upon the rearward end of the horn 3 and having a reduced portion or section 8 journaled in a bearing boss 9 intermediate the ends of the horn 3. e

The main-shaft has fixed. upon its rear ward end the usual belt-wheel 10 and is provided within the hollow base 1 with the needle rock-shaft actuating crank 11 and the spring-pressed friction bevel-wheel 12 meshing with a similar wheel 13 upon the transverse shaft 14 carrying the hand-wheel 15. The friction-wheel 12 is shown formed with a body portion 16 of yielding material clamped between the rearward disk 17 and the forward disk 18 which is formed in its outer face with an annular recess 19. Within the recess of the forward disk is pivoted by means of the shouldered screw 20 a lateral ear or flange 21 of the ball-eccentric 22 which is provided with an oppositely extending lateral ear or flange 23 in which is tapped the threaded forward extremity of a clamp-screw 24 passing through a segmental slot 25 formed concentric with the screw 20 and extending through the friction-wheel with its head normally seated upon the back of the disk 17. In order to permit the lateral. shifting of the eccentric 22 relatively to its supporting shaft 6, it is formed with a slot 26 which is also concentric with the pivotal screwQO, the lateral movement of the eccentric in relation to the main-shaft providing for the adjustment of its throw in a manner well known.

The feed-eccentric 22 is embraced by the strap 27 of an eccentric rod 28 whose opposite end embraces a ball-eccentric upon the rearwardly extending arm 29 of a plural-. armed rocker mounted upon the fixed fulcrumstud 30 carried by the lug 31 extend ing inwardly from the wall of the base 1, and having asecond laterally extending arm 32 above the same carrying a ball-stud embraced by a strap 33 at the rearward end of the feed-bar 34 which extends longitudinally through the work-supporting arm 3 above the rock-shaft section 8 and formed near its forward end with a reduced cylindrical portion 35 to which is adjustably secured the slide-block 36 channeled in its upper side to provide a seat to receive the foot 37 of the serrated feed-dog 38 secured therein by means of the fastening screw 39 passing through a longitudinal slot 40 in the interposed endwise adjustable wedge 41. The bearing member 42 of the horn 3 is cut out in its upper side to form a rectangular slideway 43 embracing and guiding the slideblock 36.

To the reduced intermediate portion 35 of the feed-bar 34 is slidingly fitted a tilting bearing or fulcrum-block 44 formed with lateral bosses 45 which are entered by the fulcrum-screws 46 passing through the opposite members of a yoke 47 embracing said block and formed at the upper end of an upright lifting bar or post 48 apertured at its lower end to form a strap 49 to embrace the feed-lifting eccentric 50 fixed upon the reduced forward portion 8 of the main-shaft 6 and disposed within an'oil-cavity 51 formed in the lower side of the horn intermediate the bearing members 9 and 42, which extend across the lower portion of the horn to afiord the ends of such cavity, as indicated in the drawings. The post 48 has also a clearance aperture 52 intermediate its ends through which passes the looper-supporting rockshaft 53.

As will be observed, the longitudinal reciprocating movement of the feed-bar for efi'ecting the advance of the work up the arm of the machine toward the base 1 is produced through its described connections with the feed-actuating eccentric 22, while the rising and falling movements of the feed-dog are produced by the feed-lifting eccentric 50 through the post 48 and tilting bearing 44 swiveled therein.

As more fully shown and described in my pending application before mentioned, the machine in which the present improvement is embodied is of the double-chainstitch type and comprises a reciprocating eyepointed needle and a loop-taker in the form of an eyed thread-carrying looper. v

Coiiperating with the needle 54 carried by the reciprocating needle-bar 55 is the looper 56 secured upon the rocking looper-carrier 57 pivotally mounted upon the forward end of the longitudinally extending looper rockshaft 53 by means of the fulcrum-pin 58. The looper-carrier 57 has beneath its fulcrum-pin 58 a pivotal and sliding connection 59 with the reduced forward extremity 60 of an endwise reciprocating rod 61 ournaled in the bearing block 42 and having upon its rearward end, and within the oil cavity 51 a collar 62 having a rearwardly extending arm 63 carrying a lateral stud 64 entering a cam-groove 65 in the cam 66 mounted upon the forward end of the main-shaft section 8 adjacent the feed-lifting eccentric 50 and also within the oil-cavity 51. By means of the cam-groove 65 and the endwise jogging rod 61, the loopercarrier is rocked upon its fulcrum-pin 58 to impart the sidewise or needle-avoiding movements to the looper 56 whose endwise operative or loop-seizing and shedding movements are derived from the oscillatory movements of its supporting rock-shaft 53.

By extending the driving shaft into the forward end of the horn 3, not only is it practicable to impart the lifting movements to the feedbar directly therefrom and comparatively closely to the point of engagement of the feed-dog with the work, but the rocking movements of the looper-carrier may be communicated by a compact form of mechanism oflering little momentum to overcome in the operation of the machine at high speeds; while the parts of such mechanism subjected to the greatest wear are embraced within the oil cavity which may be flooded with oil to insure the best possible lubrication and hence durability in the continued operation of the machine.

As the thrust of the presser-foot 67 under the action of the usual spring upon the presser-bar 68 is sustained by the feed-dog 38 during the feeding action, it is important that the spring of the feed-bar thereunder be reduced to a minimum, which has been difficult in the mechanisms heretofore employed in machines of this type; but by the present construction the point of support of the feed-bar may be arranged near the feeding surface, thereby in creasing the strength and rigidity of the feeding member without adding to the weight of the parts.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. In a sewing machine, the combination with the main-shaft extending longitudinally of the work-support, of a feed-bar also extending longitudinally of the work support, a feed-clog mounted upon the forward end of said feed-bar, means, including an actuating eccentric upon the main-shaft, an eccentric-rod and a bell-crank lever connected with the opposite end of said feedbar, for imparting endwise movement to the latter, a bearing in which said feed-bar is supported intermediate its ends for endwise movement, a feed-lifting eccentric upon said main-shaft, and a post for sustaining said bearing terminating in a strap embracing said feed-lifting eccentric.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with the main-shaft extending longitudinally of the work-support, of a feed-bar also extending longitudinally of the worksupport, a feed-dog mounted upon the forward end of said feed-bar, means including an actuating eccentric upon the main-shaft, an eccentric-rod and a bell-crank lever con nected with the opposite end of said feedbar, for imparting endwise movements to the latter, a tilting bearing in which said feed-bar is slidingly mounted intermediate its ends, a feed-lifting eccentric upon said main-shaft, and a post for sustaining said bearing terminating in a strap embracing said feed-lifting eccentric.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with the frame comprising a laterallyclosed work-supporting horn, of a feed-bar extending longitudinally of said horn and provided at its forward end with a seat, a feed-dog formed with a foot overlying said seat, an endwise-adjustable wedge interposed between said seat and the foot of said feed-dog, means for clamping said feeddog and wedge upon said feed-bar, means for imparting endwise reciprocating movements to said feed-bar, and feed-lifting means connected with said feed-bar intermediate its ends and within said work-supporting horn.

4:. In a sewing machine, the combination with the frame comprising a laterally closed work-supporting horn having longitudinally disposed spaced shaft-bearings extending across the lower side of the. same to form therewith an internal oil-chamber, and a main-shaft journaled within and longitudinally of said horn and entering said oilchamber, of a feed-bar longitudinally disposed in said horn above said main-shaft and provided upon its forward end with a feed-dog, actuating means connected with the opposite end of said feed-bar for imparting endwise movements thereto, a feedlifting eccentric upon the main-shaft and disposed intermediate said shaft bearings and within said oil-chamber, a bearing in which said feed-bar is movably mounted intermediate its ends, and a post for sustaining said bearing terminating in a strap embracing said feed-lifting eccentric.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with the frame comprising a laterally closed work-supporting horn having longitudinally disposed spaced shaft-bearings extending across the lower side of the same to form therewith an internal oil-chamber, and a main-shaft journaled within and longitudinally of said horn and entering said oilchamber, of stitcl1for1ning mechanism including a needle and a loop-taker with actuating mechanism including a connection with said main-shaft within said oil-chamber, a feed-bar longitudinally disposed in said horn above said main-shaft and pro vided upon its forward end with a feed-dog, actuating means connected with the oppos te end of said feed-bar for imparting endwise movements thereto, a feed-lifting eccentric upon the main-shaft and also disposed within said oil-chamber, a tilting bearing in which said feed-bar is movably mounted intermediate its ends, and a post for sustaining said bearing terminating in a strap embracing said feed-lifting eccentric.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination w'th the frame comprising a laterally closed work-supporting horn having in its lower side an internal oil-chamber, and a mainshaft journaled within and longitudinally of said horn with its forward portion entering said oil-chamber, of stitch-forming mechanism comprising a reciprocating needle and a looper, a looper-supporting rock-shaft disaosed parallel with and above the mainshaft within said horn and upon which said looper is laterally movable, a cam upon the main-shaft within said oil-chamber, an operative connection intermediate said cam and the looper from which lateral movements are imparted to the latter upon its supporting rock-shaft, a feed-bar longitudinally disposed in said horn above the looper rock-shaft and provided upon its forward end with a feed-dog, actuating means connected with the opposite end of said feed-bar for imparting endwise movements thereto, a feed-lifting eccentric upon the main-shaftand also disposed within said oil-chamber, a bearing in which said feedbar is movably mounted intermediate its ends, and a post for sustaining said bearing terminating in a strap embracing said feedlifting eccentric and apertured to embrace the looper rock-shaft.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination with the main-shaft extending longitudinally of the work-support, of a feed-bar also extending longitudinally of the work-support, a feed-dog mounted upon the forward end of said feed-bar, a disk fixed upon the main-shaft, an eccentric having a central elongated aperture and provided with a flange fitted upon the face of said disk, a fulcrum-pin by which said flange is pivotally connected to said disk upon one side of the shaft, a screw-and-slot connection intermediate said flange and disk at the opposite side of said shaft whereby said eccentric made adjustable transversely of said shaft, a connection including an eccentric-rod having a strap embracing said eccentric for imparting endwise movements to said feed-bar, a movable support for sustaining said feedbar intermediate its ends, and means for imparting rising and falling movements to said movable support.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with the frame comprising a hollow base and a tubular work-supporting horn extending laterally therefrom, and a mainshaft passing through said hollow base and journaled within the lower side of said horn and extending longitudinally of and into the forward portion of the latter and carrying within said hollow base a feed-actuating eccentric and upon its forward portion within said horn a feed-lifting eccentric, of a feed-bar longitudinally disposed in said horn above the main-shaft and provided upon its forward extremity with a feed-dog, an operative connection intermediate said actuating eccentric and the man ward extremity of the feed-bar for imparting endwise reciprocating movements to the latter, and a feed-bar support sustaining the feed-bar intermediate its endsand adjacent the feed-dog and operatively connected with the feed-lifting eccentric.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE E. MOLYNEUX.

Witnesses:

W. H. HUGG, H. A. KORNEMANN, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

